Question on laptop

Nursing Students Pre-Nursing

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I am a pre-nursing student and I am in the market for a new laptop. What brand would you recommend and why? I have heard Apple is good but I want to know if there is something better and I don't know much about computers. Please Help!!

I just replaced my toshiba because it got dropped and the screen shattered. I decided just to get a new one because to replace the screen it was $400 and I was having some other problems with it. I got a compaq presario and so far I love it. And they're not that expensive. I got a faster processor and more memory for about $300 less than my last laptop. Good luck

MacBook. You can run windows or mac os x on it and they're AWESOME. I have one and love it.

If you get one make sure you get the student discount.

Yep . . .except leave Windows far behind. . . . . my friend is a teacher in a tech school financed by Apple and she has two MacBooks and loves them.

I had to buy two Dell laptops for my son in college after the screen went out on the first.

steph

Specializes in NICU.

Sorry to all you Mac lovers, but I can NOT see running two OS's on one computer as a good idea. The ultimate choice is Windows or Mac, pick one. Whoever said before "It's a Windows world" was right. Not many people other than artists and such really use Mac.

So, for school, WINDOWS!!! Especially because you do not want to be wasting time trying to figure out how to "boot camp" with running both on a Mac, and you will most likely find yourself wanting to be able to use both.

Specializes in LTC.

One thing to know is that while the bigger screen might be helpful in some ways, it probably won't make up for it in weight. I got a Gateway that was 2 inches larger than I wanted because it was on sale. But it is too heavy for me to take to school along with all my books. I tried it once and it ripped the strap on my backpack.

Good luck in your search.

Don't forget about software when you get your computer. Office is a must have. In my opinion, PowerPoint all your notes when you get home from class. It helps put the info into memory when you set up a presentation with your notes.

Specializes in Education, Administration, Magnet.

I didn't have good experiences with HP or with Compaq. Dell is ok, and their service is always great. They still help me with tech support and my warranty has been expired for a year. But listening from all of you about Toshiba, I think that will be my next brand.

apple computers tend to be more for media (videos, pictures, music...), so i would rather go for a PC (like dell, HP, toshiba...) but really when it comes to choosing a laptop it's more like a personal preference.

i have an HP pavilion dv2000 which has a 14.1" screen and a 100GB harddrive - 100GBs is a lot! i honestly don't think i would fill it up, but you never know. i thought the 14.1" screen would be a little small but really it's perfect! i think the 11" and 12" laptop screens are a bit on the small side and 17" screens are nice, but with a larger screen comes a larger laptop and they tend to be heavier. my laptop is actually really light - it weighs 5lbs with the battery in! weight to me is important especially if you like taking your laptop to class.

i've had this laptop since july of last year and i haven't had any problems with it - i absolutely love it!

and if you're buying a laptop at say, best buy or something, i would highly recommend getting a service plan because you never know! paying an extra $299 for a service plan is definitely better than dropping another ~$1200 or so on a brand new laptop in case something happens to it. the service plan that i have covers the comp for 3 years and it covers ANY damage - a key pops off, you spill something on it, you drop it, the screen gets messed up - ANYTHING - and you'll get an instant replacement. it's really nice to have especially if you're going to be living in a dorm because roommates can be a pain at times...service plans usually cover the laptop battery, too (and those are very expensive! - usually around $200).

that's just my 2 cents =]

I am a pre-nursing student and I am in the market for a new laptop. What brand would you recommend and why? I have heard Apple is good but I want to know if there is something better and I don't know much about computers. Please Help!!

i would definately not buy a dell!

Thanks guys for all the GREAT info. It looks like most of you agree Toshiba is a good buy so I think that maybe the way I go. Thanks again!!!

Specializes in Psych, Tele.

I have a Dell and absolutely love it! Make sure you get a laptop with the new O/S "vista." XP will no longer have tech support, although under warranty you can call Dell tech support.

i would go with a dell they are great.

Specializes in NICU.

I use a pc for my work on the job at the university but I would NEVER OWN anything but an Apple Macbook Pro. We are constantly waiting for the techies to come unscramble some esoteric software problem with the pc's and their incomprehensible maze of control panels, etc. I don't have time to waste becoming a computer geek and dealing with the latest viruses.

There are no viruses for Mac's unless you're running Windows with the BootCamp software.

The Mac has saved me hours of time writing papers. With a few simple keystrokes you can capture charts, graphs, photographs, illustrations and paste them into papers quickly and easily, even from web sources which attempt to block such maneuvers. Instructors LOVE this. Try doing this with a PC and you'll discover the meaning of misery. It will do wonders for your grade on projects.

For the very few things you might need to do, and there will be very few if any, that can't be done on the Mac operating system, you can run Windows with Apple's free Bootcamp software. You will, however, have to provide the Windows OS to install plus whatever software is needed but it's cheaper than buying two machines. The next generation of the Mac OS will include the software needed to run Windows but it's already free and easy to download and install.

Apple developed the mouse, the graphical interface, built-in networking software and hardware, iPod...........and to this day Bill Gates and Intel are copying Apple's ideas.

Whichever system you buy, it would be a very good idea to buy the maximum support/service plan you can get with it. I always do that. It isn't needed often but when it is you're real glad you have it. You'll spend $1,000 to $2,000 or more on a computer. Saving a few hundred by not buying a support service is a false economy. Especially when you have an important report or paper due in two days!

Anything larger than a 15" screen is too heavy to carry everywhere. 12" is plenty.

Good luck.

MAC. definately. The basic MacBook runs about 1099... get a warranty for aoround 200-300 more. Its definately worth it. No pop ups. Absolutely No viruses. Excellent display. You can get windows office software for mac (a little pricey). Fun things too like iphoto, making films on your own... which is fun. Interface is less cluttered than a PC. A lot of optionhs that cut your time in half. Plus, no alien files that keep you wondering if its supposed to be there.

Word processing... same except thatyou're not as paranoid with your files getting corrupted. My mac has never ever crashed. BUT one peeve: the adaptor is just terrible! the latest version ahs a neat feature of snapping off in case you accidentaly trip on the wire. dunno how that is doing. but for my 2005 at least, the wire disconnected from the main body. Ive heard of a few complaining about sparks. Scary Getting a new adaptor from mac costs $80. So i got one from a third party which was excellent both in quality and in price.

On the other hand, TOSHIBA is pretty reliable. We have 2 laptops at home. Problems ive had with them though are 1) battery 2) display (bulbs are sensitive so you might need TLC). and of course, as with all the pcs ive had, if you don't update and contiually scan yoru cp youll find it lagging until you have to reformat and all. (we've reformatted our toshibas countless times)

GOOD luck.

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